Nursing device



Feb. 1, 1966 R. w. BARTON 3,232,467

NURSING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1964 INVENTOR.

E J BY 2/ 1 13 United States Patent 3,232,467 NURSING DEVICE Raymond W. Barton, Evansville, Ind, assignor to Mead Johnson & Company, a corporation of Indiana Filed Apr. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 361,365 3 Claims. (Cl. 21511) This invention relates to nursing devices and particularly to improvements in nursing devices of the type capable of utilizing disposable, flexible, retractile containers of plastic or the like for containing a supply of formula to be used during nursing.

In recent years, retracticle formula containers have come more and more into use for nursing purposes. The retractile container is usually used in a combination nursing device including a disposable retractile bag made of a thin flexible plastic material having an open end in flow communication with a nipple for permitting delivery of formula through the nipple responsive to sucking action on the nipple. It is not necessary to permit entry of displacement air during feeding, and the retractile or collapsible bag may be conveniently disposed of after feeding. Sterilization of formula containers and the like for reuse is minimized.

It is a general object of this invention to provide new and useful improvements in a nursing device of the character described.

Another object is to provide new and useful means for interconnecting the nipple and formula container for use in a nursing device of the type employing a retractile formula container.

Still another object is to provide a new and useful nipple mounting structure or fitting, in which one end of the fitting carries a nipple and including a conduit for supplying formula to the nipple from another end of the fitting which is easily insertable by guiding into the open end of a retractile bag for securing the bag thereto.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful structure in accordance with any of the foregoing objects in which free fiow of liquid formula is asshred from the formula container to the nipple until the formula container has been substantially completely emptied.

And another object of this invention is to provide a structure in accordance with any of the foregoing objects wherein the bag is releasably secured to the nipple mounting structure by a snap lock feature which is integral with the nipple mounting structure and with a sleeve member configurated to receive the nipple mounting structure with the bag clamped within the snap lock between the sleeve and nipple mounting structure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of a form of nursing device embodying the principles of this invention, with the device exploded for more clearly showing the structure of the component parts; and

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the device of FIGURE 1 with the device of FIGURE 1 assembled.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail a specific embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings, a rigid structure is provided in the form of a sleeve 12. In the form shown, the sleeve 12 is a tapered tubular member with a first open end at 13 and a second open end at 14. Open end 14 is slightly narrower than open end 13. The

3,232,467 Patented Feb. I, 1966 sleeve 12 is a grippable member and is capable of containing a flexible retractile container, shown in the form of a plastic bag 15, therein. Bag 15 functions as a liner for the walls of sleeve 12. Bag 15 is a disposable bag of generally elongate configuration having an open end and a closed end. Such bags are readily available and will be recognized by those in the art to include the pro-sterilized elongate tube-like bags available in roll or strip form, individual bags being separable along perforated tear lines.

A nipple mounting structure or fitting 16 defines the neck of the nurser illustrated. Fitting 16 is formed of side walls defining a conduit 17 between the interior of bag 15 and the interior of a nipple 18. Nipple 18 is mounted by a threaded ring member over a threaded end of fitting 16 and encloses the end of conduit 17 opposing the end enclosed by bag 15. The nipple 18 and threaded ring member 19 are of the usual configuration for use in nursing devices.

A snap lock indicated generally by reference numeral 22 is provided for securing sleeve 12 to fitting 16 while clamping the wall of bag 15 adjacent the open end thereof between sleeve 12 and fitting 16. The clamping of bag 15 by snap lock 22 suspends bag 15 within sleeve 12. Snap lock 22 includes a circular rim 23 integral with fitting 16 and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of fitting 16, and a circular groove 24 in the inner surface of sleeve 12. Rim 23 is received by groove 24 in snap lock fashion upon insertion of fitting 16 into the end 14 of sleeve 12 with slight pressure to urge rim 23 into groove 24.

A tubular extension 26 is provided beyond rim 23 and extends into bag 15 within sleeve 12 from the open end of bag 15 and from end 14 of sleeve 12. Tubular extension 26 is formed of an annular wall 27 having an outer surface tapering away from rim 23 toward an open end 28 of extension 26. The edge of end 28 is disposed at an angle away from normal with respect to the axis of the tapered tubular extension 26, defining a blunt, pointed portion 29. The blunt, pointed portion 29, the slope of end 28 and the taper of the outer surface of Wall 27 tend to urge or cam the end of bag member 15 to a more open position during insertion of end 28 of fitting 16 into the open end of bag 15 to permit easier insertion.

A plurality of ports 32, as shown in the illustrated form, define a flow path from the exterior of fitting 16 ad jacent rim 23 for flow of liquid through wall 27 into chamber 17. It will be noted that each of ports 32 extends to a position adjacent rim 23 for draining from bag 15 liquid which would be dammed up or otherwise blocked against flow from bag 15 by the tubular extension 26 projecting into bag 15.

Sleeve 12 is provided with a cut-away portion 33 over the major portionof its bag containing length for viewing contents of a bag suspended therein. For this purpose, the bag used is preferably transparent or at least translucent. Numerical scales 34 and 35, readily readable With the illustrated device in upright and inverted disposition respectively, are provided for determining the amount of liquid remaining in bag 15 with the device in standing of feeding position. The scales 34 and 35 are correlated with predetermined or preselected volumetric liquid contents with bag 15 relative to both ends of bag 15 with the bag in suspended position within sleeve 12 as shown.

The sleeve 12 and fitting 16 may be constructed of suitable plastic material or the like by molding or other construction techniques. The manufacture of the sleeve and fitting will be apparent to those in the art from its structure,

It is intended that the sleeve and nipple mounting fitting may be supplied as a combination, with or without the nipple and nipple retaining ring and with or Without a supply of disposable plastic bags. The sleeve and nipple mounting fitting may be assembled with conventional nipples, nipple mounting rings and disposable bags, by the purchaser, as desired, to form the nursing device described herein.

In assembling the device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, preparatory to use of the device, the nipple 18, nipple retaining ring 19. and nipple mounting fitting 16 are cleaned and boil-ed in water for sterilization. A plastic bag, usually supplied pre-sterilized, is manipulated between the fingers for opening the bag. End 28 of fitting 16 is then inserted into the open end of the bag 15, preferably with blunt point 25? leading. As the fitting 16 is so inserted, the edge surface at end 28 and the I tapered surface of wall 27 functions to cam the bag to a more open and rounded configuration. The flexible bag is slipped over fitting 16 until the open end of the bag extends slightly beyond rim 23, providing a stretchedtight fit of bag over rim 23. With finger pressure on the outside of the bag, the bottom of the bag is pushed into chamber 17 to a position, as seen in FIGURE 2, for example, slightly beyond rim 23. The fitting 16, carrying bag 15 by its open end, is then inserted within end 14 of sleeve 12 and is pushed into its snap lock position withrim 23 engaging groove 24. Care should be taken during the assembly operation not to touch or contaminate the interior of bag 15 and fitting 16 and the exterior portion of fitting 16 which is disposed within bag 15. The desired quantity of prepared or ready-tofeed formula is introduced through the top of fitting 128 and is received by bag 15, bag 15 being extended by the formula. The nipple 18 is mounted in the retaining ring 19, and the retaining ring 19 is threaded to the top opening of fitting 16 in the same manner as with the former types of nursing devices.

The assembled device is used in the usual manner for nursing, and as the liquid is sucked from bag 15, the bag retracts or collapses. Atmospheric pressure is maintained at the outer surface of bag 15 by opening-s through sleeve 12 at end 13 and at cut-away 33.

As the level of formula within the bag becomes very low, fiow of formula, which would otherwise be trapped between extension 26 of fitting 16 and the surrounding bag with the assembled device in feeding position, is maintained through one or more of the ports 32 provided in wall 27, thereby assuring drainage of bag 15 until bag 15 is empty.

7 I claim:

1. A nursing unit comprising a hollow sleeve member having a tapered tubular wall, means in said wall permitting visual observance of the sleeve contents throughout a major portion of the sleeve length, a circular groove .on the interior sleeve wall adjacent one end of said sleeve and generally concentric with the sleeve, a nipple holding assembly including wall means having a first open end and a threaded second open end defining a flow path from the first open end to the threaded second open end and a threaded ring member threadable on said second open end for sealingly securing a nipple against said second open end, said first end of said wall means being of a size and configuration for insertion within the first end of said sleeve member, an elongate flexible retractile liquid impervious bag member having an open end and capable of containing liquid, a circular rib on the exterior surface of said wall means intermediate said first and second ends for tight fit engagement with said groove responsive to insertion of said nipple holding assembly by its first "end into thenarrower end of said sleeve With a wall thickness of said bag therebetween, means for guiding said nipple holding assembly by its first end into the open bag end, said bag being of a size and configuration for generally conforming to the sleeve interior surface over said portion.

of the sleeve length with the bag open endhcoextensive with the first end of said sleeve and secured in open disposition between said rim and groove for fluid communication of said fiow path with the bag interior, scale means along said portion of said sleeve correlated with 7 ing a portion intermediate said first and second open ends and a bag receiving element for receiving an open edge of a bag at said first open end and directing the open edge to said intermediate portion with said wall means extending within said bag, and separate drain port means in said well means spaced from said first open end and adjacent saidinterrnediate portion defining a flow path into said conduit through said wall means.

3. A nursing unit comprising a hollow sleeve member; an elongate flexible retractile liquid impervious bagmember having an open end and capable of containing liquid; a tubular nipple holding assembly having a first open end, a second open end, and wall means extending between said first and second open ends defining a flow path from the first open end to the second open end, said first end and said wall means being of a size and configuration of insertion of said first end within the first end of said sleeve member, said wall means comprising a guiding element for guiding said nipple holding assembly by its first end into the open bag end; means for sealingly securing a nipple against said second open end, snap-lock means for removably locking said nipple holding assembly at a position intermediate its first and second ends within the first end of said sleeve With a Wall thickness of said bag held by said snap-lock means, said bag being of a size and configuration for generally conforming to the sleeve interiorsur-face over said portion of the sleeve length with the bag open end coextensive with the first end of said sleeve and secured in open disposition by said snap-lock means for fluid communication of said flow path with the bag interior, and-a plurality of openings through said wall means betweensaid snap-lock means and first end and extending to said snap-lock means for defining a flow pathfor fluid said wall means.

References Cited. by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,520,335 8/ 1950 Piazze 2l5.ll 2,643,448 6/ 19.53 Piazze 215-ll 2,876,113 3/1959 Barton 2l5-l'1 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner;

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

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1. A NURSING UNIT COMPRISING A HOLLOW SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING A TAPERED TUBULAR WALL, MEANS IN SAID WALL PERMITTING VISUAL OBSERVANCE OF THE SLEEVE CONTENTS THROUGHOUT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE SLEEVE LENGTH, A CIRCULAR GROOVE ON THE INTERIOR SLEEVE WALL ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE AND GENERALLY CONCENTRIC WITH THE SLEEVE, A NIPPLE HOLDING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING WALL MEANS HAVING A FIRST OPEN END AND A THREADED SECOND OPEN END DEFINING A FLOW PATH FROM THE FIRST OPEN END TO THE THREADED SECOND OPEN END AND A THREADED RING MEMBER THREADABLE ON SAID SECOND OPEN END FOR SEALINGLY SECURING A NIPPLE AGAINST SAID SECOND OPEN END, SAID FIRST END OF SAID WALL MEANS BEING OF A SIZE AND CONFIGURATION FOR INSERTION WITHIN THE FIRST END OF SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, AN ELONGATE FLEXIBLE RETRACTILE LIQUID IMPERVIOUS BAG MEMBER HAVING AN OPEN END AND CAPABLE OF CONTAINING LIQUID, A CIRCULAR RIB ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID WALL MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS FOR TIGHT FIT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GROOVE RESPONSIVE TO INSERTION OF SAID NIPPLE HOLDING ASSEMBLY BY ITS FIRST END INTO THE NARROWER END OF SAID SLEEVE WITH A WALL THICKNESS OF SAID BAG THEREBETWEEN, MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID NIPPLE HOLDING ASSEMBLY BY ITS FIRST END INTO THE OPEN BAG END, SAID BAG BEING OF A SIZE AND CONFIGURATION FOR GENERALLY CONFORMING TO THE SLEEVE INTERIOR SURFACE OVER SAID PORTION OF THE SLEEVE LENGTH WITH THE BAG OPEN END COEXTENSIVE WITH THE FIRST END OF SAID SLEEVE AND SECURED IN OPEN DISPOSITION BETWEEN SAID RIM AND GROOVE FOR FLUID COMMUNICATION OF SAID FLOW PATH WITH THE BAG INTERIOR, SCALE MEANS ALONG SAID PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE CORRELATED WITH VOLUMETRIC LIQUID CONTENTS OF SAID BAG RELATIVE TO BOTH ENDS OF SAID BAG WITH SAID BAG DISPOSED IN SAID SLEEVE, AND A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THROUGH SAID WALL MEANS BETWEEN SAID RIB AND FIRST END AND EXTENDING TO SAID RIB FOR DEFINING A FLOW PATH FOR FLUID THROUGH SAID WALL MEANS. 